Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-11
GOV. OGLEsBY,S ACTION.
His Reasons for Committing the Sen.
fences Of SchSgab and FieIdeu and
Allowing the Other Four Men "a
Hang.

j
sentences OF Parsons, Spies, Engel and Fischer
he refused to interfere. l. s. oliver and the three
Spiess brothers, Christ Ferdinand and Ernst were
| on their way 70 the governors mansion at Spring
field, when they were met by some reporters,
| who broke TO them the news that their brother
must perish Seen In the uncertain gaslight their
faces looked pitful Tn expressions OF pain that
passed over the countenances OF the young men
was sad In the extreme. Tears rolled from their
| eyes, and. better than words could tell it. their
angu sh was pictured In their tear-flled eyes and
| quivenng lips
| ch!sts was telegraphed to sheriff Mason By the
/ governor at D O'Clock yesterday afternoon. The
formal decision bearing the great seal OF the State
| was taken to Chicago last night on the o O'Clock
train by the governors son and private secretary,
| RIbert Oglesoy, WAC was met at the depot by
Sheriff Matson, who will formally receive the war
rant OF the STATE TO execute EngeL Fischer Par.
| sons, and Spies.
| George scnllling, who was at Springfield. re-
| ceived dispitcn from Capt. Black last evening 20
the effect that the bomD-thrower had been located
4 In New York, and asking the governor to grant a
respite OF few days till Investigation could be
had. The governor said that he had already re-
| ceiyed similar telegram from New York. Capt.
Black also wired Schiling that he would arrive In
| Springfield at Ais O'Clock this morning to make
| another appeal for respite Tor Parsons
Gov. Oglesby's Decision.
THE coAMUTArIoN OF THE SENTENCES OF sCHwAB
| AND FIELDEN
The following is the governors decision in fun:
SPRINGFIELD November 10, 1887. I
On the Goth day OF August 1885, in the Cook
County Criminal court, August spies. Al .ert X.
Parsons, Samuel Fielden, Micnael Schwab, .Adolph
Fischer George Engel, and Louis Lingg were found
guilty by the verdict OF the jury, and afterward
sentenced TO be hanged for The murder OF Matthias
j. began.
An appeal was taken from such finding and SEN
tence TO the Supreme Court or the State. That
court, upon u final hearing, and after mature de-
liberation, unanimously affirmed the judgment OF
by petition OF the defendants for consideration as
governor OF the State IL the letters OF Albert Par
soGs Adolph Fischer, George Engel, and Louis
LiDgg, demanding unconditional release or as
they expesS IL, "1berJy or DEATH" and protesting
In the strongest language against mercy or COM
mutation OF the sentence pronounced against
them, can be considered petitions pardon, could 1t
De granted, which may imply any quit Whatever
upon the part OF either OF Them would not be such
a vindication they demand. Executive inter-
ventiOn upon the grounds insisted upon by the
four abJve-named persons could in no
OF the constitutional power to grant re-
prieyes, combinations, and pardonS unless based
upon the belief on my part OF their entire limo
celce OF the crime of which they stand convicted
careful consideration OF the evidence In the
record OF the trial OF The parties as well as OF all
alleged and claimed for them outside OF the record
has failed 10 produce upon my mind any impress
sion tending 10 tmpeach the verdict OF the jury
the Judgment OF the trial court or OF the Supreme
Court aifirmlng the guilt OF all these parties Sat
isied, Therefore, as ain OF their guilt, am pre-
Guided from considering the question OF commuta-
h
Fischer, George Engel and Louis Lingg to Impris-
onInenL in the penltentidry, as they enphatically
declare they Will not accept such communication.
Samuel Flelden, MicnaeI Scwab, and August spies
unite In petition for executive clenency."
Fielden and Schwab in addition, present sep rate
tation Of their sentences While, as said
above, L am satisfied of the guilt OF
OF tine which Was SUSTAINED de p Ser tSe
judgments OF the courts, most careful cOnSidera-
ton OF the whole subject leads me TO the conclu-
sion that the sentence OF the law as 10 Samuel
Fielden and Michael Schwab may be modified as TO
each OF them, in the interest or humanity, and
without doing violence to public justice. And as
TO the said Samuel Fielden and Michael Schwab
the sentence Is commuted TO imprisonment in the
pen1tentlary for lie. AS to all the other above
named defendants, do not feel justified in inter-
fering with the sentence OF the court. While
would gladly have come 10 a different conclusion
In regard TO the sentence OF defendants, August
Spies, Adolph Fischer, Geo. Engel, Albert X. Par
sons, and Louis Lingg, regret to say that, under
the solemn sense or the Obligations OF my Office
have been unable TO do so.
RICHARD J. OGLEsBY, Governor"
The following Is copy OF the instrument Of
fcially committing the sentences OF Fielden and
ScawD:
STATE OF ILLINOIS, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT..
Richard j. Ogtes6y, GOceraOr Of Illinois, TO the
sherry y Cook County, greeting:
Whereas Samuel Fieiden and Michael Schwab
were convicted at the June term, A. d. 1856, OF
the Criminal Court OF Cook County OF the crime
OF murder, and were&entenced TO be hanged, and,
Whereas, 1t has been presented To divers good
and Michael SchwaD are lit and proper subjects
for executive clemency:
Now, know ye that 1, Richard j. Oxlesby, gov
erhor OF Illinois, by authority In vested by the
constitution OF this State, do, by these presents
commute the sentence OF said Samuel Fielden and
Michael schwao to Imprisonment in the peniten-
tiary for life.
In testimony whereof I hereto set my hand and
cause TO be affixed the great seal OF the state
Done at the city OF Springfield, this tenth day OF
November, in the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eghty-seven, and OF the indie
pendence OF the Cnlted States the one hundred
(SigneD r. j. OGLEsBY, Governor
(s4gned) HENRY ID. DEMENT,,
Secretary OF State
Receiving the News in the Jail.
As soon as the news OF the governors action was
made IL own in Chicago the relatives OF the con-
demned men began to arrive at the Jail The first
OF the women to come was Mrs. Schwao. Soon
after Schwab was brought from his cell to the
main Off e. His wife quickly advanced TO him.
and, throwing her arms about his neck. burst into
tears. Schwab returned the embrace in a calm
II.4Aer, and soon the two were chatting quietly
together. After this Spies and Fischer were
brought from their cells and taken to the jail
library. Engel was brought TO the private Office
OF Mr.. Folz This was done for the purpose OF
allowing the relatives to take their last inter-
views Miss Engel, daughter OF one OF the con-
demnel next arrived, and when the father and
daughter met there was very affecting
scene. Mrs. Spies, mother OF August,
who had long been waiting outside, was
soon admitted. Her sobs could be heard through
the corridors She did not stay long in the
library with her son, and, on her exit from the
jail, MIS- Fischer was admitted She went into
the library and her lamentations were heard
above the tramp OF the deputies who swarmed
about But the browning scene OF all was the
visit OF Nina Van Zandt, the proxy wife OF spies.
She was conducted TO the library by Deputy Ole
SON. As she walked through the main office she
betrayed no emotion. the moment she saw
August, however, her demeanor completely
changed There was a look, then gasp, and the
lovers were In each others arms. bevy OF
curious reporters and officers crowded up to the
door OF the library, but 1t was quickly shut by the
deputy. The interview lasted nearly half an hour
THE CONDEMNED OFFICIALLY INFORMED.
Sheriff Matson went TO the Jail last night to give
personal notice to Spies, Engle, Fischer, and Par
sons that they would have TO suffer the extreme
penalty OF the law. He also wanted TO see that
his deputies were so placed that all Unauthorized
people should De Kept from the vicinity The
sheriff would only say that none OF the condemned
men showed any signs OF br aking down. Rev
DIR. Bolton, OF the First Methodist CHURCH. called
on Parsons. His visit lasted about three minutes
and his EFFORTS 10 get Parsons TO consider spiritual
matters were OF no avail When supper was
brought IN from a neighbOring restaurant all OF
the arnachstS partoOk OF cream toast. Fischer
INDUCED In steak, and Engle ate some mutton
cAops All took coffee.
CAPT. BLACKS "BLUFF."
Capt. Black last night served notice on sheriff
Matson that the execution must not take place. as
the mandate was imperative, Illegal and void and
further notified him that II he attempted to carry
out the order OF execution he would be held re-
threat was only blum, and he would take no
notice OF IL.